6 Housing: Preventing global warming through energy conservation All ceilings, external walls, and floors in our housing products are designed for efficient thermal insulation. Moreover, doors and windows are constructed of materials that are good insulators, and thus the insulation efficiency of the house as a whole is high. This reduces energy consumption by heating and air-conditioning equipment, achieving energy conservation without detriment to comfort. These homes produce, directly or indirectly, only one-third the volume of carbon dioxide emissions stipulated by the Housing Loan Corporation’s general energy conservation standards for housing. Preventing global warming through creation of new energy sources The burning of fossil fuels such as oil leads to the emission of carbon dioxide, a major cause of global warming, and the search for alternative sources of energy is thus a matter of some urgency. The use of clean, renewable energy sources such as solar power would reduce demand for gas or for electric power generated by conventional methods, effectively resulting in energy conservation. This process can be termed “energy creation,” and Daiwa House has contributed to this by developing 4 photovoltaic power generation systems adaptable to various roofing materials and roof shapes. Countermeasures against environmental pollutants We have carefully examined all chemicals contained in construction materials to assess their impact on the human body and the environment in general, and are implementing countermeasures. A particularly urgent issue is the reduction or elimination of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can pollute the air inside homes. Daiwa House is taking measures to minimize the use of materials that contain harmful substances such as formaldehyde. Office Buildings: Reducing electric power loads The Ice Thermal Storage Air-Conditioning System that Daiwa House has installed at its head office building in Osaka utilizes electricity at nighttime, when the power load is low, to produce ice, which is then used for air-conditioning during the day. This allows a reduction in power consumption during the daytime peak-demand period. The building is also fitted with a gas co-generation system consisting of an electricity generator powered by a gas turbine engine whose exhaust heat is used to power the air-conditioning and supply hot water. This system supplies 55% of the heat and 50% of the electric power that the building uses per annum. An outline of Daiwa House’s environmental protection activities — from houses to buildings and hotel operations Kankyo Kobo Houses are equipped with solar generation systems that supply electricity and hot water, as well as organic garbage processors and rainwater collection systems. Séjour RG Kankyo Shubo A new rental home that conforms to Next Generation Energy Conservation Standards, as houses are well insulated and thus save energy. Statement with E Houses conform to higher standards of health, comfort, and energy efficiency. Comparison of Yearly CO2 Emissions by Housing Environmental Impact Case Studies 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0 2.215 1.481 0.800 1.481 0.800 Comparison of CO2 Emissions by Housing (in carbon equivalents) (Region No. IV) Yearly CO2 Emission (tons) "Statement With E" standards New Energy Conservation standards Housing Loan Corporation standards *Energy usage is calculated on the basis of kerosene-fired heaters and electric air conditioners
Transcript
6
Housing:Preventing global warming through energy conservationAll ceilings, external walls, and floors in our housing productsare designed for efficient thermal insulation. Moreover, doorsand windows are constructed of materials that are goodinsulators, and thus the insulation efficiency of the house as awhole is high. This reduces energy consumption by heating andair-conditioning equipment, achieving energy conservationwithout detriment to comfort. These homes produce, directly orindirectly, only one-third the volume of carbon dioxide emissionsstipulated by the Housing Loan Corporation’s general energyconservation standards for housing.
Preventing global warming through creation of new energysourcesThe burning of fossil fuels such as oil leads to the emission ofcarbon dioxide, a major cause of global warming, and the searchfor alternative sources of energy is thus a matter of someurgency. The use of clean, renewable energy sources such assolar power would reduce demand for gas or for electric powergenerated by conventional methods, effectively resulting inenergy conservation. This process can be termed “energycreation,” and Daiwa House has contributed to this bydeveloping 4 photovoltaic power generation systems adaptableto various roofing materials and roof shapes.
Countermeasures against environmental pollutantsWe have carefully examined all chemicals contained inconstruction materials to assess their impact on the human bodyand the environment in general, and are implementingcountermeasures. A particularly urgent issue is the reduction orelimination of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that canpollute the air inside homes. Daiwa House is taking measures tominimize the use of materials that contain harmful substancessuch as formaldehyde.
Office Buildings:Reducing electric power loadsThe Ice Thermal Storage Air-Conditioning System that Daiwa Househas installed at its head office building in Osaka utilizes electricityat nighttime, when the power load is low, to produce ice, which isthen used for air-conditioning during the day. This allows areduction in power consumption during the daytime peak-demandperiod. The building is also fitted with a gas co-generation systemconsisting of an electricity generator powered by a gas turbineengine whose exhaust heat is used to power the air-conditioningand supply hot water. This system supplies 55% of the heat and 50%of the electric power that the building uses per annum.
An outline of Daiwa House’s environmental protectionactivities — from houses to buildings and hotel operations
Kankyo KoboHouses are equipped with solargeneration systems that supplyelectricity and hot water, as well asorganic garbage processors andrainwater collection systems.
Séjour RG Kankyo ShuboA new rental home that conforms to NextGeneration Energy Conservation Standards, ashouses are well insulated and thus save energy.
Statement with EHouses conform to higher standards ofhealth, comfort, and energy efficiency.
Comparison of Yearly CO2 Emissions by Housing
Environmental Impact Case Studies
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0
2.215
1.481
0.800
1.481
0.800
Comparison of CO2 Emissions by Housing(in carbon equivalents)
(Region No. IV)Yearly CO2 Emission (tons)
"Statement With E"
standards
New EnergyConservation
standards
Housing LoanCorporationstandards
*Energy usage is calculated on the basis of kerosene-fired heaters and electric air conditioners
7
Waste recycling systemAt the Company’s head office, a system has been implemented torecover all waste for recycling as resources. All office desks arefitted with a “pocket” for waste paper to facilitate recycling.Other types of waste separated into categories and deposited at“recycling stations” located on each floor of the building. Thissystem has been highly praised for its environmentalcontribution, and the head office received the Kinki Region’s“New & Clean Office Environment Award.”
Housing Developments:A completely barrier-free living environmentThe Daiwa House Industry Group is engaged in the construction, inmany locations throughout Japan, of environmentally friendly large-scale housing projects, such as the “Neopolis” suburban-typedevelopments and the “Royal City Resort” housing developments,situated amidst wooded surroundings. Based on the principle ofharmonizing with the natural environment, the preparation of thesuburban-type development sites leaves the land in as natural a stateas possible. During construction work, waste materials are re-used,and great effort is expended to ensure that the whole development isbarrier-free. All this is part of the Group’s commitment to creatingnatural and comfortable living environments.
Housing developments in harmony with natureAt the group’s Eco Hills Kasugayama, in Joetsu City, NiigataPrefecture, the whole housing development is exclusivelyequipped with electric appliances, i.e., there are no gasappliances, and the hot water supply systems utilize surpluselectric power generated at night. In addition, the Foundationfor the Promotion of Energy Conservation in Housing, anorganization affiliated with the Ministry of Construction, hasawarded the “Daiwa House GE Type” house model a certificationas an environmentally-friendly residence. We are also activelypromoting the use of a low-noise garbage processing system inour new apartment buildings and single-family houses.
Factories and Building Sites:Promoting effective utilization of resourcesDaiwa House is working to utilize resources as effectively aspossible. This is being achieved via a three-pronged approach:(1) reducing the amount of waste materials generated atbuilding sites, such as wrapping and packaging material, as wellas scrap construction materials; (2) reusing materials that do notneed reprocessing; and (3) using scrap construction materials toproduce new materials. We aim to reduce waste at our plants aswell as at construction sites to zero by the year 2005.
Reduction of pollutantsThe Company is exerting considerable efforts to reduce theamounts of chemicals used in the production processes at itsfactories and the amounts of such chemicals emitted.
Osaka Head Office BuildingWe have installed energy-efficient lighting, redesignedthe configuration of light-switch circuits, andintroduced sensor-controlledlighting to save electricity.
